Arash AF10: Five Motors!
You may not know who Arash is, and that’s okay. This small supercar builder is based in England, and it currently sells two models, the AF8 and the AF10. However, it’s the beastliest one of two that interests us here.
The hybrid version of the AF10 benefits from a rather complex powertrain, which includes a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 that develops 900 horsepower, but also four electric motors—one at each wheel—that produce 295 horsepower each. By adding all that up, we obtain a car that boasts… 2080 horsepower and 1682 pound-feet of torque!
To manage that prodigious amount of power, the AF10 also relies on five transmissions, a six-speed gearbox for the V8 engine and four two-speed units for the electric motors. Thanks to its all-wheel drivetrain, the car can accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h (0-60 mph) in 2.8 seconds, which sounds conservative, considering the cavalry underfoot.
The AF10’s platform is composed of 13 pieces, with aluminum and carbon panels sandwiched together. The front and rear ends are built out of aluminum. According to the manufacturer, the result is very light, but very stiff, too. As for the bodywork, Arash opted for carbon fibre reinforced plastic with, in certain areas, a polished and unpainted finish. The car receives 19-inch forged magnesium wheels up front, and 20-inch wheels at the rear, and to assure maximum downforce and aerodynamics, the AF10 is equipped with two rear wings—one fixed and one active—as well as an active front lip spoiler.
The AF10’s cockpit is rather tight, lightly finished, but does include an infotainment system with navigation as well as automatic climate control. As for price, figure about CAN$1.6 million for the Arash AF10 Hybrid.